THE FOUR FOUNDATION
ELEMENTS The Church of the LIVING GOD, the PILLAR and GROUND of the TRUTH (I Tim. 3:15)
God, the Living (Isa. 37:4; Dan. 6:26; I Thess. 1:9; I Tim. 6:17; Heb. 3:12; II Cor. 3:3; Rev. 7:2; et al). Considering the One-Ness of the God-Head, it is rather hazardous to suggest that God-the-Father was "married" or bound in an almost inextricable way to the original (or pre-messianic) Church and that God-the-Son is subsequently "married" to the latter-day Church, but the Scritures give us good cause to come to this conclusion (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:14; St. John 3:28-29; Heb. 10:20; Rev. 21:2).
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The God-Head is characterized variously as a "stone" (e.g., Psa. 118:22; Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Dan. 2:34, 45); a "rock" (e.g., Isa. 28:16; Deut. 32:4, & 15, 18, 30, 31; I Sam. 2:2; II Sam. 22:32); a "foundation" (e.g., Eph. 2:19-22; II Tim. 2:19; Rev. 21:14), all indicating the stone-like characteristics of the God-Head (Acts 17:29)--everlasting, sure, safe, enduring, solid, sound, firm, etc. In fact, God often used symbolism in "stone" (e.g., Joshua 4:5-9; 24:25-27; Gen. 10:18; 28:22). Pillar is used in the spiritual/biblical sense to include those individuals who have become "stone-like" (i.e., steadfast, strong, reliable, dependable, tenured, overcomers) in the Church (Gal. 2:9; Rev. 3:12; Matt. 16:18; I John 5:4, 5). Jesus Christ is the "chief conerstone" or pillar (Eph. 2:19-22).
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Psychologists have defined a concept of figure and ground, a mutually influencing relationship between two distinct integers. Figure is characterized by good contour and unity; ground is relatively homogenious with parts less clear and patterned, and is more pervasive. In this exact same relationship, the Bible uses pillar and ground; "pillar" being equivalent to figure and "ground" being equivalent to holiness. Hence, the spiritual/biblical significance of ground epitomizes the holy place upon which the Church is established--true Holiness. The mystery is presented time and time again in the Bible (Gen. 28:10-22; Exo. 3:5; Psa. 90:1; 91:1, 2; Prov. 14:26; Mic. 1:3; Joshua 5:15; Acts 7:33).
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It is perhaps least difficult to comprehend the "earthly mission/characteristic" bestowed upon Jesus, the Christ. He made this very plain in St. John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me," (emphases ours). This is iterated, emphasized and reverberated on many occasions in the Scriptures (Deut. 32:4; Isa. 35:8; Jer. 6:16; John 8:31, 32; II John 1:1-4; Acts 19:23; John 10:11; I John 5:6; Heb. 10:10-20). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," (John 1:1). "And the Word was made flesh..., and dwelth among us, full of grace and truth," (1:14). Jesus prayed for His disciples, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth," (John 17:17). Strictly speaking, TRUTH is the Word of God embodied in Jesus (the Christ) and the Holy Ghost.
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